WOUNDED MAN FALLS AFTER CHASE

Helaine OlenCHICAGO TRIBUNE

A parolee shot in the chest by a policeman led officers on a chase through two stairwells of a Cabrini-Green apartment building early Friday before collapsing.

Police were conducting a weapons and narcotics sweep on the third-floor stairwell of the building at 1340 N. Larrabee St. just after midnight when Patrolman Kenneth Charles, 44, heard someone running up the stairs.

Aaron Feazell, 24, allegedly pulled a sawed-off shotgun from under his jacket and aimed at Charles. Charles shot twice, hitting Feazell once in the chest, according to Belmont Area Cmdr. William Callaghan.

Feazell ran back to the first floor and entered another stairwell, Callaghan said. With several policemen half a floor behind, Feazell climbed to the sixth floor before he collapsed, Callaghan said.

Feazell, who has a long criminal record, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was in serious but stable condition and under police guard late Friday.

In addition to several charges in this incident, Feazell was charged Friday in connection with a shooting Dec. 18, also in Cabrini-Green. He is also a suspect in a Christmas shooting.

Police said Feazell was on parole after serving time for a 1989 armed robbery.